Mr Zuckerberg, who is Jewish, said that he thinks there are things “that different people get wrong”.

Mr Zuckerberg’s remarks sparked criticism (AP)

He said: “I find that deeply offensive. But at the end of the day, I don’t believe that our platform should take that down because I think there are things that different people get wrong.”

The remarks sparked criticism, including from the Anti-Defamation League, which said in a statement that Facebook has a "moral and ethical obligation" not to allow people to disseminate Holocaust denial on its platform.

Following the interview, Mr Zuckerberg clarified his point in an email to Recode. It read: “I personally find Holocaust denial deeply offensive, and I absolutely didn’t intend to defend the intent of people who deny that.

“Our goal with fake news is not to prevent anyone from saying something untrue — but to stop fake news and misinformation spreading across our services.

“If something is spreading and is rated false by fact checkers, it would lose the vast majority of its distribution in News Feed.

“And of course if a post crossed line into advocating for violence or hate against a particular group, it would be removed.

“These issues are very challenging but I believe that often the best way to fight offensive bad speech is with good speech.”